It’s that time of year again when spring arrives in all her glory. That’s great news

for those of us suffering from too much time indoors during the winter months, but it may leave allergy sufferers panicking…or running for their antihistamine drugs, decongestants & allergy shots.

Before you pop those pills, spray your nose, or get that injection, you might want to consider some of the natural options that help with allergies. Here are some of my preferred foods & remedies:

Papaya Enzymes—papaya contains a natural enzyme known as papain that

has natural anti-inflammatory properties. It helps you alleviate inflammation linked to sinus & nasal swelling, as well as addressing many of the symptoms of your allergies, hay fever & excessive catarrh buildup. It works on the root causes of allergies, so you need to be patient: it may take some time with papain for you to see the results.

While the fruit is helpful, for best results you can supplement with papain enzymes on an empty stomach. When there is no food for the enzyme to break down it goes to work to reduce inflammation. Choose a product that contains 250mg of papain. Take 2 capsules 3 times daily for a month prior to & during allergy season.

Quercetin—A natural antioxidant found in foods like apples, berries, cabbage,

cauliflower, nuts, onions & tea; this nutrient has been found to have potent anti-inflammatory & antihistamine properties, making it a great choice for you to reduce the effects of pollen & other allergens. In a study published in the medical journal In Vivo, researchers explored the mechanism by which quercetin supplements worked on people suffering from allergy-related nasal congestion. They found that the nutrient reduced your body’s production of a protein linked to airway inflammation. Take 400mg of quercetin twice daily.

Green Tea is known as one of the best superfoods for many conditions & is also

beneficial for your allergies. That’s because it contains a potent antioxidant known as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that can impact your allergies on a cellular level by reducing inflammation. You don’t have to remember EGCG to benefit however; simply drink more green tea.

Even if you’re not a huge fan, you should try drinking it iced with a little stevia to sweeten & a squeeze of lemon for a delicious & refreshing iced green tea.

Perilla Frutescens—This little-known herb is part of the mint family & has been

explored as an all-natural, herbal remedy for allergies. In a study in Experimental Biology & Medicine, researchers found that perilla & one of its active ingredients known as rosmarinic acid significantly reduces your inflammatory reactions such as nasal & sinus congestion, & eye irritation. Other research in the International Journal of Molecular Medicine found that the herb was also effective at alleviating your allergy-related skin conditions.

The effective dose of perilla differs from product to product & depends on whether the seeds or leaves are used, or whether the remedy is an extract of a specific compound or crushed, dried leaves. You need to follow package directions since the products can have a wide range of potency. A typical tincture (alcohol extract) dose is 30 drops 3 times daily. Ideally, you should start a month prior to your primary allergy season & continue throughout the season.

Butterbur—Known as Petasites hybridus, this shrub grows in wet, marshy parts of

North America, Asia & Europe. Multiple studies show its effective in the treatment of your allergies. *Because the raw plant contains chemicals known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) that can be harmful, you need to be sure to choose a product that is PA-free*. It should indicate this status on the label. You should follow package instructions for dose.

Of course, if you have life-threatening allergies, you should seek emergency medical help. And, don’t discontinue any prescription drugs without first consulting your physician.

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This is good information.  I use quercetin daily so I know it works; however,  haven’t tried the others, but I don’t have bad allergies: just the runny nose & occasional sneezing. Tis the season in Texas as the trees are leafing out now & the pollen is falling…

I used to grow mint because I like the smell when you rub the leaves between your fingers, but I never used the plant for anything. Actually, I have no idea what happened to them as I’ve not thought about them for a long time.

I am thinking of beginning an email list & would like your feedback as to whether this is something you’d be interested in. You can leave me a message below. I’d like the feedback…